Fatal Attraction of Nationalist Socialism

This research addresses the important question of how a totalitarian regime could find mass support for its inhumane policies. It thus deals with an important historical question, which is also relevant to our own time: a study of the darkest aspect of German history offers more general insights into the fatal attraction of fundamentalist movements.

How could the German Right transform itself from a politics of the nobility into a fatally attractive, popular ideology? How could the Nazi Party gain mass support in free elections and remain popular far into its rule? Dr. Thomas Rohkramer is currently examining how the desire for a single communal faith played a decisive role in attracting German citizens to the extreme Right. This research addresses the important question of how a totalitarian regime could find mass support for its inhumane policies. It thus deals with an important historical question, which is also relevant to our own time: a study of the darkest aspect of German history offers more general insights into the fatal attraction of fundamentalist movements.

The major outcomes of this project have been so far the following monographs:- 'A Single Communal Faith? The German Right from Conservatism to National Socialism' (2007). This book focuses on the intellectual expressions of the desire for a communal faith in Germany from 1800 to 1945. - 'Die fatale Attraktion des Nationalsozialismus. Zur Popularität eines Unrechtregimes (2013). This book discusses the fatal attraction of National Socialism in particular in regard to the aesthetisation of politics, the desire for a community of the people and militarism.

I am currently continuing with the project by studying National Socialism and Film as well as hero cults in German history.